Former Waterloo Road star Max Bowden has been cast as the new Ben Mitchell in EastEnders, taking over the role from Harry Reid. The character, son of Phil Mitchell, left Walford in 2014 after stealing money from Aidan's heist and moving overseas.
Bowden, best known for playing Justin Fitzgerald in the BBC1 school drama, will begin filming in the coming weeks. He becomes the sixth actor to portray Ben Mitchell, with new boss Kate Oates overseeing the recast.
Bowden expressed his excitement, stating: 'I’m so excited to be joining the cast of EastEnders and taking on the role of Ben Mitchell. I’ve always been a fan of the show so to be joining one of the most iconic families in soap is beyond exciting.'
Kate Oates added: 'A character like Ben, with his rich history, ‘complicated’ family and complex psychology, is pure gold. With Max in the role, we will be exploring the aspects of Ben’s character that have been allowed to develop during his time away from the Square.'
Ben's return coincides with that of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) and their daughter Lexi, who are also set to reappear in Albert Square in the coming months.
